M'Nee, Duncan, druggist in Glasgow.

Duguid, William, jun. merchant in Aberdeen; by

George Wilson, advocate there.

Hay, John, merchant and spirit-dealer, Leith Walk; by Alex. Grant, writer in Edinburgh. Harthill, James, merchant in Aberdeen; by Alex. Webster, advocate there.

Johnston, R. and J. cattle-dealers, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright; in William Mason's, innkeeper, New Galloway.

M'Nair, Alex. merchant in Dingwall; by James Gray, merchant in Inverness.

Morgan, Andrew, flax-dresser in Kirkcaldy; by George Millar, jun. merchant there.

Luscar, Fifeshire:

DIVIDENDS.

Brooks and Blackie, general agents, Grangemouth,

and Wm. Blackie and Co. Glasgow; by Wm. Muir, merchant, Glasgow.

Donald, William, merchant in Greenock; by Jas. Little, residing there.

Kerr, accountant there.

Perth Foundry Company; by Henry Lindsay, merchant in Perth.

Roxburgh, Andrew and John, carpet - manufac

turers in Kilmarnock; by R. Wilson, residing there.

Wilson, Anthony, merchant and ship-owner, in Aberdeen; by Alex. Webster, advocate there.

Extraordinary circumstance.--On Friday evening, the 22d Feb., a man of the name of David Nelson died in the parish of Half-Morton, and was buried on the Sa. turday following, under very unusual circumstances. Although so poor as to be without even a house to put his head in, the deceased had seen better days, and in the course of a life of more than ordinary length and vicissitude, had figured as a farmer, a merchant, and some even say as a smuggler. He was a man of gigantic stature; and, in his youth, possessed such firmness of nerve, and strength of muscle, that he was supposed to be a match for at least three ordinary men. Having married early, he was the father of several children, who are now scattered over the world, and all of whom have conducted themselves respectably, excepting one daughter, who is the mother of several illegitimate children, and whose conduct latterly was the chief cause of her father's misfortunes. From the account we have heard of this person, she appears to be a perfect Meg Merrilies, without even the generosity of that celcbrated gipsey; and betwixt three and four years ago excited, by her misconduct, so much terror and dissatisfaction, that

the inhabitants of Half-Morton, and the adjoining parish, petitioned their landlord to banish her from his estate. To the old man himself no objection was made; but his daughter had acquired such an ascendancy over him, that neither the terrors of local banishment, nor the pressing solicitations of his other children, could ever induce him to desert her. About Whistunday 1819, therefore, this unfortunate pair, together with a little boy, were actually turned out of house and hall, and for several months might have been seen bivouacking in the open air, in the true gipsey style. As the season advanced, the worthy proprietor alluded to again took pity on these miserable outcasts, and permitted them to occupy a cottage on a vacant farm-stead. Shortly after this, a tenant entered to the farm in question, whose wife one day surprised Dame Nelson in the act of setting fire to the rafters of the cottage. Having remonstrated with her on this daring outrage, the virago flew into a violent passion, assailed her accuser with the most dreadful imprecations, and brandishing a long knife in a wooden handle, would have perhaps committed murder, had not the good woman made a precipitate retreat

In

to her own house, and closed the doors and windows. In consequence of this outrage, the parties were forced to return to their old quarters on the king's highway, where they continued to live, up to the time of the old man's death. this dreary abode, the lee-side of a turfdike formed their chief protection against the inclemency of the weather, and their whole furniture consisted of a wooden bed, a cupboard, a table, two old chairs, and a few cooking and eating utensils. The bed, in which the father, daughter, and grandchild slept, although not free from chinks, was close on all sides excepting the front, which was covered by an old rug suspended from the top, and made fast by a few sods or stones. The position of this bed they shifted like the sails of a ship, uniformly turning its front to the lee-side of the blast. Their fire, which was also shifted as circumstances required, was plentifully supplied with fuel from a neighbouring moss, and their kettle, although not filled with "cockpurloined," might be seen suspended from "a stick transverse," in exact imitation of the gipsey manner. The singularity and simplicity of this encampment occasionally attracted the notice of the passers-by, some of whom ventured to hazard an idle joke, or ask a few civil questions; but Miss Nelson was no friend to levity, and when at home, she uniformly chased away every intruder by a single flourish of her long knife, or a single glance of her stern and savage eye. One day an amiable young lady, daughter to the proprietor already repeatedly alluded to, happened to pass by their encampment, who being much affected with the sight of such destitution, reined in her palfrey, and with the tear in her eye promised to intercede with her Papa in behalf of the parties. But the moment Dame Nelson understood who

the young lady was, she opened on her such a flood of Billingsgate, that the fair visitor was fain to scamper off, equally terrified and disgusted.

When in health, the old man went about the country collecting eggs, which his daughter took to Carlisle market. With the proceeds of these she bought tea and sugar, which Nelson again retailed to his customers; and in this way, it is probable, the parties picked up a scanty livelihood.

On Friday the 22d ult, the old man, as we have already stated, appeared to be at the point of death, when his daughter requested the attendance of some boys, in whose presence he expired. She then roused her own son, a boy about seven years of age, who lay asleep beside the corpse, and desired him to sit on the bed with a lighted candle, while she went to alarm the neighbours. When informed of the old man's death, the neighbours were anxious to convey his body to a dwelling-house; but this the daughter sternly and resolutely refused, observing with an oath, that "their doors should never be darkened with the corpse of a man they had left to die wi' perfect cauld." Nay, she even threatened to bury him unshrouded and uncoffined, rather than call in the assistance of the parish joiner, who had at one time sworn the peace against her. In the evening several neighbours repaired to the spot; but the night was so wet and stormy, that they all dropped off before morning, leaving only the little boy and his beldame mother to continue this

solitary and singular late-wake. On Saturday, some friends arrived from a distance, who procured a coffin, and conveyed the remains of the ill-fated David Nelson to a mansion, which may be tenanted in perfect peace, and which is never exposed to the inclemency of the elements.

BIRTHS.

1821. October 8. At Bengalore, the Lady of Capt. A. E. Pattullo, 4th native cavalry, a son.

1822. Jan. 6. At Rome, Donna Letitia Bonaparte Wyse, the Lady of Thomas Wyse, jun. Esq. of the Manor of St John, Ireland, a son and heir. The infant has received the name of Napoleon.

18. Mrs Moncreiff, Northumberland Street, Edinburgh, a son.

24. At Renishaw, the seat of Sir George Sitwell, Bart. Lady Sitwell, a daughter.

-At Rathkeale, in the county of Limerick, the Lady of Lieut.-Colonel R. H. Dick, of 42d Royal Highlanders, a son.

26. At Ruchlaw, the Lady of John Buchan

Sydserff, Esq. of Ruchlaw, a son.

-At Ladyland, Mrs Cochrane, a daughter. Feb. 2. At Whim, the Lady of Arch. Montgomery, Esq. a daughter.

6. At Edinburgh, Mrs Dewar, of Lassoddie, a daughter.

At Hutton manse, Mrs Edgar, a daughter. VOL. X.

9. At Coekenzie, Mrs H. F. Cadell, a son. 10. At Dunnikeir House, Lady Oswald, of Dunnikeir, a daughter.

11. At Oldfield, Caithness, Mrs Captain Henderson, younger of Simster, a daughter.

15. At Carlton Place, Glasgow, Mrs James Monteith, a daughter.

At Mayfield, the Lady of A. M. Guthrie, Esq. younger of Craigie, a son."

17. The Lady of John Cay, Esq. a son. 18. At Queensferry, Mrs Dimma, a son. 19. At Edinburgh, the Lady of Lieut.-Colonel Holmes, C.B. commanding 3d dragoon guards,